In a brief announcement on wwe.com, the Stamford, CT-based company announced that Hemme, the 2004 Diva Search Award Winner, was no longer with the company.

"WWE and Diva Christy Hemme have come to terms on her release," the company said.

The news of Hemme's departure comes as a bit of a surprise, as the popular Diva had earlier announced that she would be going to Ohio Valley Wrestling to work on her skills. As she posted on her website, christyhemme.com, "I want everyone to know that I am serious about becoming a better wrestler and to really do that, I need to focus on training. With that said, I am going to take a break from traveling with Smackdown to train in Louisville, Kentucky at the Ohio Valley Wrestling School."

Hemme first appeared on WWE TV during the spring of 2004, when she was part of the $250,000 Diva Search. Throughout the contest, she steadily grew to be a fan favourite. She ended up winning the competition, which entitled her to a one-year contract with the Fed.

Since the search ended, Hemme had been a mainstay on WWE programming. Though she was primarily involved in bikini contests and other such competitions, Hemme would also enter the ring for regulation bouts on occasion, including a match with WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus at WrestleMania XXI. She also acted as a valet for Nick "Eugene" Dinsmore during her tenure on Raw.

Hemme later became part of the Smackdown crew during a post-Draft Lottery trade. Rarely on television, Hemme occasionally would battle fellow Diva Stacy Kiebler.

Hemme's tenure with WWE also included a spread in Playboy, as well as appearances in various WWE media, including the Viva Las Divas DVD.